The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-23
THE RED RACE.

Ills indian WHOA woman or Eau
cation.
Says letter to The Minneapolis Jour
nal: The day and night | passed with
Mr. Van Meter who resides on the
Sioux reservation. He is married to
an Indian woman of more than ordina-
ry intelligence, while he himself is one
OF the oldest settlers in Dakota, and
well posted on the Indian question.
Van was at one time the owner of the
entire town site where Vermllon now
stands. He came to Dakota when the
population did not number five hundred
whites and the Sioux held full and COM
plete sway. His wife was educated at
one Of the missions, and for several
years taught the young Indian how to
shoot-not the bow and arrow, nor the
Winchester, but in educational mat
tiers.
lie has raised three daughters and
three sons, and / must say his family is
the only one have thus far met with
that follows the ways and manners of
the whites The kitchen was the pink
Of perfection in regard to neatness and
cleanliness, and the general surround
ings gave the log hut the appearance
Of white pioneers home.
We would talk over the Dawes bill and
the Indian question. saw before the
conversation had progressed very far
that not only Mr.. Van Meter but his
wife were thoroughly conversant with
the features of the Dawes bill as first
framed and presented to congress, they
favored its passage. Il tell you the
only practical and ellectual way of i'm
proving the intellectual condition of
The Indians is to bring them into closer
contact with the whites" spoke up
Mrs. Van Meter, who was writing
letter to her son student in a Phila-
lelphia college Il have observed"
she continued, zone very important
hing amongst my people that has al
ways left very strong impression on
my mind, and made me, an earnest
advocate OF any measure that forces the
Indian to come into closer relations
with the whites. The Indians are apt
mitators, and if the Dawes bill should
pass, and they are required to take land
in severaltv, they would be continually
mixed with the white settlers, and
venture to predict that inside of five
gears 70 per cent would have discard
ed the blanket and donned the habili-
ments of the Americans. Our girls
would also dress in the civilized mode.
and each generation would improve.
My conclusions are drawn from prac-
.ical observations. Why, look at Chief
Hump. Who would have dared 10 ask
ibis warrior of Sitting Bulls band five
years ago to part with his long locks,
throw aside the blanket and breech
cloth, and do away with the war-paint
and war dance? Look at him now!
lair cut short. navy-blue suit, SLOUGH
nat, shirt, and the only thing that re-
mains of his former costume are the
moccasins. What has caused thisp
Why his trip to Washington, and being
brought into constant contact with the
wi g employees at the agency. Tbs
and nothing else.
my wife" said Van, 'has received
/. letter from one of my sons, who has
just returned from England. We have
TWO boys attending college in Philadel-
phia, and when the queens jubilee took
place they asked our permission to visit
hat country. The college authorities
wished to send class of educated In
Ian boys to the celebration for the
purpose of advertising the institution,
md selected our sons The trip afford
I'd them an excellent opportunity to
witness the affair. Ny youngest son
relates his experience from the day of
leaving Philadelphia up to the date OF
his return.
At this iuncture Mrs. Van Meter
handed your rowing correspondent the
the letter for inspection. aud it was an
excellent specimen of penmanship. and
spoke well for boy OF 10 years, who
only six years ago roamed over the
boundless prairie.
ut is one of the most difficult mat
tiers to secure the consent of parents TO
allow their children 10 be sent away to
school. An Indian has an idea" said
Mrs. Van Meter. 'rhat the eastern
country is unhealthy-their children
will become sick and die. Ii is even